August 29, 2025 • 13 mins
Wildcat Whip with Tom Leach, Jeff Piecoro & Dick Gabriel before the season opening match up against Toledo.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to the Wildcat Whip at Cambril, Tom Lee, Jeff
decorol Time to talk some football, the Wildcats opening up
with Toledo of course, And Jeff, I'll start with you
in your mind's eye, I mean on TV you've talked
about it a lot, on the radio, we've all talked
about it. But in your minds how do you see
this open or playing out? And when you were in Kentucky,
(00:21):
you guys played some mac teams. They always come in
here tough, with a chip on their shoulder.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Yeah, and this team is really good. I mean Toledo
smacked Missisippi State last year at home. They put forty
one on Missippi State. Then in the bowl game they
had forty eight against pitt So there are two games
against powerful conference they won. Now, they got a lot
of new guys coming in. And it's funny their coach.
I had something on from him last night on the
news and he said, heck, we got new players almost
(00:50):
at every darn position, you know. So they're a lot
like Kentucky. But the one thing, and I talked to
Bush today and coach Hampden said that, look, they've read
the papers, they've heard the coaches talk and we're talking
about rebuilding the big blue wall, establishing the run game,
so they know what we're gonna do. But he thinks,
as do I, Kentucky has the edge on the offensive
(01:12):
line because of the size.
Speaker 3 (01:14):
They're biggest guys too, eighty five up front.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
They don't have a three hundred pounder on defense on
the defensive front, so I think Kentucky tries to wear
them out with the big backs.
Speaker 3 (01:23):
They've been so excited. You know this.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
You've been to the press conferences and everything, and you've
seen some of the practices. Daldell and McGowan are really good,
and they're hammers. They're between the tackles type runners, just
like Chris Rodriguez, just like Benny Snell. You know, those
kind of bigger backs that will just wear down a defense.
And I think that's what the Cats are going to
try to do in this game, establish the running game
(01:47):
and wear them out. They're not as deep, obviously, they're
max school as you.
Speaker 3 (01:51):
Would think Kentucky would be.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
Kentucky really is eight offensive lineman now that they really trust,
So I think you're going to see them rotating a
little bit, and I really think they they try to
run the football first and establish that running Gham, I'll
make it a lot easier on Calzada and a lot
easier on the wide receivers Tom.
Speaker 1 (02:08):
In your mind's eye, how does this game play out?
Speaker 3 (02:11):
Oh?
Speaker 4 (02:11):
I think it's two teams that have questions and who
does the best job of getting good answers to the questions.
You know, Kentucky has revamped their offensive line. Two starters
are back, but only one of them in the same position.
The buzz is all good, but let's this has always
(02:31):
been a case leading up to the season for Kentucky.
With so many new faces, you can't really know be
certain of anything until you see them out on the
field and against a quality opponent, which I think Toledo is.
So you know, in Toledo's side, is their offensive line better?
Speaker 5 (02:48):
They hope it is.
Speaker 4 (02:49):
Their guys are back, They've got a lot of new
guys in the front six of their defense. How will
those questions be answered? So there's just a lot of uncertainty,
and I'm eager to see from the Kentucky side how
those questions get answered, and if they're really definitive answers
and in a good way, then you know, maybe they
get this thing started off on a really good foot.
Speaker 1 (03:12):
All right, let's talk about Jack Calzada. Jeff, you played
the SoundBite. I think we've all played that sound bite
where he said he needs to know when to be
Clark Kent when to be Superman. What do you expect
from him?
Speaker 2 (03:25):
I really think that Zach has been trying this year
to manage the game and not be a hero so
to speak. I mean, Tommy, we've been to the you know,
we've seen the scrimmages and stuff. I think that's what
they're trying to do with him, is take what the
defense gives you, don't try to force it down a field.
Speaker 5 (03:44):
Right.
Speaker 4 (03:44):
I thought he had a great line when he said
he's going to be more Clark Kent until it's time
to be super good. So it's that there's two pieces
to that. You can say it, can you live it?
And that's I've always said that what Kentucky needs this
season are Buddy Dusty Bonner. Yeah, following up Tim Kauch
that team won's supposed to go to a Bowl grup
and I think Dusty through like five interceptions in the
(04:07):
first ten games or something, So he didn't throw it
to the other team. If Kentucky's quarterbacks can start there,
that's a great spot.
Speaker 3 (04:14):
I agree hundred percent.
Speaker 1 (04:15):
Now, he's a big guy and he's not a quot
running quarterback, but Bush Hamden does have quarterback run game
in his game plan. He said last year he probably
called it too much with with Brock. Do you think
we see much of that this week? If not this year, probably.
Speaker 5 (04:36):
I think.
Speaker 4 (04:36):
I think I'm sure we'll be in their package. It's
a if they have a chance to in a matchup,
think it could be successful for them.
Speaker 5 (04:44):
I think they can do it.
Speaker 4 (04:45):
I don't think it's one time Patrick Tole's are in
like twenty times in a game. Yeah, I don't think
there's gonna be anything like that, but uh, you know,
I think you could probably do a handful of design
runs two or three whatever it is. And he can
also has the ability to scramble. He's a big guy.
Speaker 5 (05:00):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
Yeah, And I think in this game, in particular, because
of the scheme that Toledo runs defensively where it has
even though they call it his own and Tom and
I talked about this, they have manned principles, meaning it's
kind of like and Tom said it best, it's kind
of like a matchup zone if a guy comes in basketball,
when a guy comes into your zone, you take him.
Speaker 3 (05:19):
That's kind of what they do.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
So if that corner has got a they're playing what
we call quarters, meaning they split the field up in fours,
and the corner takes one quarter, the two safeties take
the two middle quarters and the other. So if that
corner turns and takes that guy, then I can see
him taking off because it's an easy five, six, seven
yards before someone can get over.
Speaker 5 (05:39):
So there the defensive back is locked in on his man. Correct.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
Yeah, he turns and runs with the receivers, so you
might see that's up and then if you can break
them of that, because look, the strength of their defense
to me is there.
Speaker 3 (05:50):
They're back four, back five.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
He had the Nickel three starters back plus to get
a starter from somebody from another school that came in.
So it's a tough defensive bid. But again, I really
think Kentucky tries to establish the run and kind of
wear them out as the game goes on.
Speaker 5 (06:06):
That came to be the matchup Kentucky. Oh yeah, could win.
Speaker 1 (06:10):
I think it's going to be really interesting now and
it's time to throw the ball because if you look
at that depth chart or or I mean, you know,
they're not really locked in. And as Stupe said, sometimes that's.
Speaker 5 (06:21):
About what package of plays they're running or whatever.
Speaker 1 (06:24):
But you know, you lose Dame Key, you lose Barrion Brown,
You've got opportunities for these other guys.
Speaker 5 (06:30):
To move up. Let me to that point.
Speaker 4 (06:32):
Go back to that ninety nine season again, and maybe
what did that team do a lot of without a
go to wide receiver a tight end a lot and
he threw to Anthony White out of the backfield. Yet
Seth McGowan catches the ball. Well, Rodriguez looks like a
big time talent. He's up from your area, Jeff. But
I mean, you know, he looks like a guy who
could be in you know, in ANFL type of tight
(06:54):
end in terms of athleticism and size.
Speaker 5 (06:56):
So maybe they take advantage of that a little.
Speaker 3 (06:58):
Yeah, I agree with that.
Speaker 2 (06:59):
You'll there's also you will get it in two ways,
good and bad. Good is you got a lot of
really good receivers and they really haven't made up their mind.
That is, nobody's really taking that step forward and going
that's our all, Sean, Jeffery or that's our you know,
John Jefferson or somebody, you know, they just haven't had
that guy explode. But they do have a lot of
(07:21):
like if you're a pitcher in baseball, a lot of
twos and threes.
Speaker 4 (07:24):
I will say every practice I've watched, what hasn't been
all of them? Hardly Gilmore has done something to maybe
go wow every time.
Speaker 3 (07:32):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (07:32):
And I asked him about that after practice Tuesday. I said,
you know, you seem to make a tough catch every
practice I see and he said, well, he said.
Speaker 5 (07:41):
It was the work he's putting in. And he is catching.
Speaker 4 (07:45):
One hundred balls a day from different angles, one hundred
you know this way, a hundred that way, whatever, and.
Speaker 5 (07:52):
Putting in the extra work.
Speaker 4 (07:53):
So he's and Jeff you've talked about how he's you know,
you've seen him coach up younger players.
Speaker 5 (07:58):
He's you know, he's.
Speaker 4 (07:59):
Had some issues, but he's done all the things that
you want to see him do.
Speaker 5 (08:02):
Now do you see it on game day?
Speaker 2 (08:05):
I think the basic answer is he's maturing as a person.
I think he's growing up. You know, he came here,
he's a row, He's a kid. Remember he was when
he like sixteen, Bush was talking.
Speaker 5 (08:14):
Him up last year before he got hurt. Think he
broke a collar bone.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
Maybe remember when we were in the bowl practices, he
was coming to practice. That's right, Like, who is this
little tiny guy and he's you know, he's starting to
fill out a little bit. He's getting bigger, stronger, but
he's he's simply maturing physically and mentally. I think that
helps a lot. The other thing that has surprised me
in the practice, Tom, and you can talk about this too, the.
Speaker 3 (08:36):
Two freshmen nineteen and twenty two.
Speaker 2 (08:38):
Every practice they seem to make a play out there
wide receiver.
Speaker 4 (08:42):
Yeah, cam Miller and US nineteen cam Miller's twenty two.
And I think one or both of those guys is
gonna probably do something in the first couple of weeks
to make you say wow.
Speaker 1 (08:53):
All I know is when Quizenberry on signing day, when
his name came up, Mark Stoops didn't compare him, for
I didn't say he'd be the next Wandale, but he
said Wandale's name. And for him just to even bring
that up, most coaches don't do that. But in you know,
and again, similar style of play, and he's got time
to develop. But I can't wait to see that kid play.
(09:14):
Let me shifted to the other side of the ball.
We know there's depth on the D line now they've
done that by building through the portal and by recruiting,
and the back.
Speaker 5 (09:25):
Four are solid. What do we know about the linebackers?
Speaker 1 (09:29):
There are guys because Kentucky for many years now has
really developed and helped build a good linebacking corps. Now
you got a couple transfers. Now you got a guy
moving up on the depth chart.
Speaker 3 (09:41):
What do you see there.
Speaker 4 (09:42):
I've always thought alex Afari was a guy that made
plays when he was out there, but they didn't seem
to be able to find the right spot for it.
And now he's been able to bulk up and he's
playing inside. And Rainer is a guy that looked like
just a good football player in the limited number of
snaps we've seen him. Jeff, the question is, though, those
guys are light, yeah, for where they're playing, but they're
(10:03):
good football players if they can hold up against the run,
and and maybe they could. Part of that is getting
some hell from the D line to tie up block.
Speaker 2 (10:10):
Let me throw a name at you, because you guys
remember this so much better than I do. But to me,
he looks Afari a lot like Woodyard. Is that a
good comparison? Lengthy, but he's but he's two thirty.
Speaker 3 (10:27):
Now, I mean that's that's good enough side around the ball.
Speaker 2 (10:32):
Yeah, that just he reminds me of what I see
him on the field because of his length and his agility.
Speaker 3 (10:38):
He came as a.
Speaker 2 (10:38):
Defensive back and now he's moved over now to the inside. Uh,
Sam Green as strong as an ox. You know he's
going to be on an outside on the edge. They've
got depth, you know, they've got they got a bunch
of right Antoine Smith another guy that we hear a
lot about.
Speaker 3 (10:53):
You're gonna hear a lot of Smith's.
Speaker 2 (10:54):
I mean I think there's twelve guys, fifteen guys in
this team named Smith's.
Speaker 4 (10:57):
Yeah, I think that's I'm going to adopt the strategy.
I'm not sure who made the tackles.
Speaker 2 (11:02):
Yeah, Jared is going to play on that defensive line.
But no, you're right when you you know you talk
about the depth. They've got depth now, and it's it's
quality depth. You're not going from Joker Phillips to Jeff Acoro.
You know, you're going a really good guy to another
really good guy and the the thing that jumps out
at you, Tom and we we I'll never forget we
(11:22):
went down and I always go back to this year.
I don't remember what it was when Florida came to town.
Remember you and I were on the field and it's
when what's his name the tight end? Was it Florida
that played for the Patriots? Oh yeah, pitch now, the
one that played for the Patriots. Yeah, and gotten all
the hernandez.
Speaker 5 (11:41):
Oh yeah.
Speaker 2 (11:44):
But we were like, oh my goodness, these guys are
It was just.
Speaker 3 (11:48):
Like athlete athlete, athlete, athlete athlete. They look like that, now,
don't they.
Speaker 4 (11:54):
And and they don't have a Josh Allen a first
round drafting, but they've got seeming if you put like
a number on a player, he's a ted.
Speaker 5 (12:03):
Josh would have been a ten.
Speaker 1 (12:05):
All right, So let's wrap this up by saying, Jeff,
what happens tomorrow?
Speaker 5 (12:09):
Do you know what to predict the score?
Speaker 2 (12:11):
But I think this game will be close in the
especially in the first half.
Speaker 3 (12:14):
I think then, as we said, it's.
Speaker 2 (12:16):
Almost thirty pounds a guy the offensive line to their
defensive line, and Brown has the guy that plays over
center to eighty five, he's three.
Speaker 3 (12:24):
Fifty, So what is that seventy pounds?
Speaker 2 (12:26):
You know, I really think Kentucky wears them down as
the game goes on, and I think Kentucky pulls away
in the second half and wins this one.
Speaker 4 (12:33):
The stat I'm most interested in seeing is going to
be rushing yards. Yeah, because if Kentucky has a size advantage,
they ought to be able to have success running with football.
And then Toledo has an entirely new front six, yes,
and Kentucky should be That should be a favorable matchup.
(12:55):
And then when Toledo's got the ball, yeah, Chip Trainum's there,
But they still got offensive line that was struggled to
run the ball. Last year, they were like ninth in
the back.
Speaker 2 (13:04):
One hundred and eighth in the country in yards per
three point four yards of carry.
Speaker 4 (13:09):
So if Kentucky's got an the wider the gap in
the rushing yards in Kentucky's favor, the better chance they'll
have to win by more than a touchdown.
Speaker 2 (13:20):
Maybe Toledo lost nine of their top twelve tacklers from
last season, but they brought back on offense six of
their top nine or.
Speaker 3 (13:28):
Eight receivers and catching the ball. Yeah, Ross is a
really good ball player.
Speaker 5 (13:33):
It'll be a challenge that'll do it. Or the Wildcat
whip for Tom Leech.
Speaker 1 (13:38):
Jeparkoro will talk you next week.
Welcome to the Wildcat Whip at Cambril, Tom Lee, Jeff
decorol Time to talk some football, the Wildcats opening up
with Toledo of course, And Jeff, I'll start with you
in your mind's eye, I mean on TV you've talked
about it a lot, on the radio, we've all talked
about it. But in your minds how do you see
this open or playing out? And when you were in Kentucky,
(00:21):
you guys played some mac teams. They always come in
here tough, with a chip on their shoulder.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Yeah, and this team is really good. I mean Toledo
smacked Missisippi State last year at home. They put forty
one on Missippi State. Then in the bowl game they
had forty eight against pitt So there are two games
against powerful conference they won. Now, they got a lot
of new guys coming in. And it's funny their coach.
I had something on from him last night on the
news and he said, heck, we got new players almost
(00:50):
at every darn position, you know. So they're a lot
like Kentucky. But the one thing, and I talked to
Bush today and coach Hampden said that, look, they've read
the papers, they've heard the coaches talk and we're talking
about rebuilding the big blue wall, establishing the run game,
so they know what we're gonna do. But he thinks,
as do I, Kentucky has the edge on the offensive
(01:12):
line because of the size.
Speaker 3 (01:14):
They're biggest guys too, eighty five up front.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
They don't have a three hundred pounder on defense on
the defensive front, so I think Kentucky tries to wear
them out with the big backs.
Speaker 3 (01:23):
They've been so excited. You know this.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
You've been to the press conferences and everything, and you've
seen some of the practices. Daldell and McGowan are really good,
and they're hammers. They're between the tackles type runners, just
like Chris Rodriguez, just like Benny Snell. You know, those
kind of bigger backs that will just wear down a defense.
And I think that's what the Cats are going to
try to do in this game, establish the running game
(01:47):
and wear them out. They're not as deep, obviously, they're
max school as you.
Speaker 3 (01:51):
Would think Kentucky would be.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
Kentucky really is eight offensive lineman now that they really trust,
So I think you're going to see them rotating a
little bit, and I really think they they try to
run the football first and establish that running Gham, I'll
make it a lot easier on Calzada and a lot
easier on the wide receivers Tom.
Speaker 1 (02:08):
In your mind's eye, how does this game play out?
Speaker 3 (02:11):
Oh?
Speaker 4 (02:11):
I think it's two teams that have questions and who
does the best job of getting good answers to the questions.
You know, Kentucky has revamped their offensive line. Two starters
are back, but only one of them in the same position.
The buzz is all good, but let's this has always
(02:31):
been a case leading up to the season for Kentucky.
With so many new faces, you can't really know be
certain of anything until you see them out on the
field and against a quality opponent, which I think Toledo is.
So you know, in Toledo's side, is their offensive line better?
Speaker 5 (02:48):
They hope it is.
Speaker 4 (02:49):
Their guys are back, They've got a lot of new
guys in the front six of their defense. How will
those questions be answered? So there's just a lot of uncertainty,
and I'm eager to see from the Kentucky side how
those questions get answered, and if they're really definitive answers
and in a good way, then you know, maybe they
get this thing started off on a really good foot.
Speaker 1 (03:12):
All right, let's talk about Jack Calzada. Jeff, you played
the SoundBite. I think we've all played that sound bite
where he said he needs to know when to be
Clark Kent when to be Superman. What do you expect
from him?
Speaker 2 (03:25):
I really think that Zach has been trying this year
to manage the game and not be a hero so
to speak. I mean, Tommy, we've been to the you know,
we've seen the scrimmages and stuff. I think that's what
they're trying to do with him, is take what the
defense gives you, don't try to force it down a field.
Speaker 5 (03:44):
Right.
Speaker 4 (03:44):
I thought he had a great line when he said
he's going to be more Clark Kent until it's time
to be super good. So it's that there's two pieces
to that. You can say it, can you live it?
And that's I've always said that what Kentucky needs this
season are Buddy Dusty Bonner. Yeah, following up Tim Kauch
that team won's supposed to go to a Bowl grup
and I think Dusty through like five interceptions in the
(04:07):
first ten games or something, So he didn't throw it
to the other team. If Kentucky's quarterbacks can start there,
that's a great spot.
Speaker 3 (04:14):
I agree hundred percent.
Speaker 1 (04:15):
Now, he's a big guy and he's not a quot
running quarterback, but Bush Hamden does have quarterback run game
in his game plan. He said last year he probably
called it too much with with Brock. Do you think
we see much of that this week? If not this year, probably.
Speaker 5 (04:36):
I think.
Speaker 4 (04:36):
I think I'm sure we'll be in their package. It's
a if they have a chance to in a matchup,
think it could be successful for them.
Speaker 5 (04:44):
I think they can do it.
Speaker 4 (04:45):
I don't think it's one time Patrick Tole's are in
like twenty times in a game. Yeah, I don't think
there's gonna be anything like that, but uh, you know,
I think you could probably do a handful of design
runs two or three whatever it is. And he can
also has the ability to scramble. He's a big guy.
Speaker 5 (05:00):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
Yeah, And I think in this game, in particular, because
of the scheme that Toledo runs defensively where it has
even though they call it his own and Tom and
I talked about this, they have manned principles, meaning it's
kind of like and Tom said it best, it's kind
of like a matchup zone if a guy comes in basketball,
when a guy comes into your zone, you take him.
Speaker 3 (05:19):
That's kind of what they do.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
So if that corner has got a they're playing what
we call quarters, meaning they split the field up in fours,
and the corner takes one quarter, the two safeties take
the two middle quarters and the other. So if that
corner turns and takes that guy, then I can see
him taking off because it's an easy five, six, seven
yards before someone can get over.
Speaker 5 (05:39):
So there the defensive back is locked in on his man. Correct.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
Yeah, he turns and runs with the receivers, so you
might see that's up and then if you can break
them of that, because look, the strength of their defense
to me is there.
Speaker 3 (05:50):
They're back four, back five.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
He had the Nickel three starters back plus to get
a starter from somebody from another school that came in.
So it's a tough defensive bid. But again, I really
think Kentucky tries to establish the run and kind of
wear them out as the game goes on.
Speaker 5 (06:06):
That came to be the matchup Kentucky. Oh yeah, could win.
Speaker 1 (06:10):
I think it's going to be really interesting now and
it's time to throw the ball because if you look
at that depth chart or or I mean, you know,
they're not really locked in. And as Stupe said, sometimes that's.
Speaker 5 (06:21):
About what package of plays they're running or whatever.
Speaker 1 (06:24):
But you know, you lose Dame Key, you lose Barrion Brown,
You've got opportunities for these other guys.
Speaker 5 (06:30):
To move up. Let me to that point.
Speaker 4 (06:32):
Go back to that ninety nine season again, and maybe
what did that team do a lot of without a
go to wide receiver a tight end a lot and
he threw to Anthony White out of the backfield. Yet
Seth McGowan catches the ball. Well, Rodriguez looks like a
big time talent. He's up from your area, Jeff. But
I mean, you know, he looks like a guy who
could be in you know, in ANFL type of tight
(06:54):
end in terms of athleticism and size.
Speaker 5 (06:56):
So maybe they take advantage of that a little.
Speaker 3 (06:58):
Yeah, I agree with that.
Speaker 2 (06:59):
You'll there's also you will get it in two ways,
good and bad. Good is you got a lot of
really good receivers and they really haven't made up their mind.
That is, nobody's really taking that step forward and going
that's our all, Sean, Jeffery or that's our you know,
John Jefferson or somebody, you know, they just haven't had
that guy explode. But they do have a lot of
(07:21):
like if you're a pitcher in baseball, a lot of
twos and threes.
Speaker 4 (07:24):
I will say every practice I've watched, what hasn't been
all of them? Hardly Gilmore has done something to maybe
go wow every time.
Speaker 3 (07:32):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (07:32):
And I asked him about that after practice Tuesday. I said,
you know, you seem to make a tough catch every
practice I see and he said, well, he said.
Speaker 5 (07:41):
It was the work he's putting in. And he is catching.
Speaker 4 (07:45):
One hundred balls a day from different angles, one hundred
you know this way, a hundred that way, whatever, and.
Speaker 5 (07:52):
Putting in the extra work.
Speaker 4 (07:53):
So he's and Jeff you've talked about how he's you know,
you've seen him coach up younger players.
Speaker 5 (07:58):
He's you know, he's.
Speaker 4 (07:59):
Had some issues, but he's done all the things that
you want to see him do.
Speaker 5 (08:02):
Now do you see it on game day?
Speaker 2 (08:05):
I think the basic answer is he's maturing as a person.
I think he's growing up. You know, he came here,
he's a row, He's a kid. Remember he was when
he like sixteen, Bush was talking.
Speaker 5 (08:14):
Him up last year before he got hurt. Think he
broke a collar bone.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
Maybe remember when we were in the bowl practices, he
was coming to practice. That's right, Like, who is this
little tiny guy and he's you know, he's starting to
fill out a little bit. He's getting bigger, stronger, but
he's he's simply maturing physically and mentally. I think that
helps a lot. The other thing that has surprised me
in the practice, Tom, and you can talk about this too, the.
Speaker 3 (08:36):
Two freshmen nineteen and twenty two.
Speaker 2 (08:38):
Every practice they seem to make a play out there
wide receiver.
Speaker 4 (08:42):
Yeah, cam Miller and US nineteen cam Miller's twenty two.
And I think one or both of those guys is
gonna probably do something in the first couple of weeks
to make you say wow.
Speaker 1 (08:53):
All I know is when Quizenberry on signing day, when
his name came up, Mark Stoops didn't compare him, for
I didn't say he'd be the next Wandale, but he
said Wandale's name. And for him just to even bring
that up, most coaches don't do that. But in you know,
and again, similar style of play, and he's got time
to develop. But I can't wait to see that kid play.
(09:14):
Let me shifted to the other side of the ball.
We know there's depth on the D line now they've
done that by building through the portal and by recruiting,
and the back.
Speaker 5 (09:25):
Four are solid. What do we know about the linebackers?
Speaker 1 (09:29):
There are guys because Kentucky for many years now has
really developed and helped build a good linebacking corps. Now
you got a couple transfers. Now you got a guy
moving up on the depth chart.
Speaker 3 (09:41):
What do you see there.
Speaker 4 (09:42):
I've always thought alex Afari was a guy that made
plays when he was out there, but they didn't seem
to be able to find the right spot for it.
And now he's been able to bulk up and he's
playing inside. And Rainer is a guy that looked like
just a good football player in the limited number of
snaps we've seen him. Jeff, the question is, though, those
guys are light, yeah, for where they're playing, but they're
(10:03):
good football players if they can hold up against the run,
and and maybe they could. Part of that is getting
some hell from the D line to tie up block.
Speaker 2 (10:10):
Let me throw a name at you, because you guys
remember this so much better than I do. But to me,
he looks Afari a lot like Woodyard. Is that a
good comparison? Lengthy, but he's but he's two thirty.
Speaker 3 (10:27):
Now, I mean that's that's good enough side around the ball.
Speaker 2 (10:32):
Yeah, that just he reminds me of what I see
him on the field because of his length and his agility.
Speaker 3 (10:38):
He came as a.
Speaker 2 (10:38):
Defensive back and now he's moved over now to the inside. Uh,
Sam Green as strong as an ox. You know he's
going to be on an outside on the edge. They've
got depth, you know, they've got they got a bunch
of right Antoine Smith another guy that we hear a
lot about.
Speaker 3 (10:53):
You're gonna hear a lot of Smith's.
Speaker 2 (10:54):
I mean I think there's twelve guys, fifteen guys in
this team named Smith's.
Speaker 4 (10:57):
Yeah, I think that's I'm going to adopt the strategy.
I'm not sure who made the tackles.
Speaker 2 (11:02):
Yeah, Jared is going to play on that defensive line.
But no, you're right when you you know you talk
about the depth. They've got depth now, and it's it's
quality depth. You're not going from Joker Phillips to Jeff Acoro.
You know, you're going a really good guy to another
really good guy and the the thing that jumps out
at you, Tom and we we I'll never forget we
(11:22):
went down and I always go back to this year.
I don't remember what it was when Florida came to town.
Remember you and I were on the field and it's
when what's his name the tight end? Was it Florida
that played for the Patriots? Oh yeah, pitch now, the
one that played for the Patriots. Yeah, and gotten all
the hernandez.
Speaker 5 (11:41):
Oh yeah.
Speaker 2 (11:44):
But we were like, oh my goodness, these guys are
It was just.
Speaker 3 (11:48):
Like athlete athlete, athlete, athlete athlete. They look like that, now,
don't they.
Speaker 4 (11:54):
And and they don't have a Josh Allen a first
round drafting, but they've got seeming if you put like
a number on a player, he's a ted.
Speaker 5 (12:03):
Josh would have been a ten.
Speaker 1 (12:05):
All right, So let's wrap this up by saying, Jeff,
what happens tomorrow?
Speaker 5 (12:09):
Do you know what to predict the score?
Speaker 2 (12:11):
But I think this game will be close in the
especially in the first half.
Speaker 3 (12:14):
I think then, as we said, it's.
Speaker 2 (12:16):
Almost thirty pounds a guy the offensive line to their
defensive line, and Brown has the guy that plays over
center to eighty five, he's three.
Speaker 3 (12:24):
Fifty, So what is that seventy pounds?
Speaker 2 (12:26):
You know, I really think Kentucky wears them down as
the game goes on, and I think Kentucky pulls away
in the second half and wins this one.
Speaker 4 (12:33):
The stat I'm most interested in seeing is going to
be rushing yards. Yeah, because if Kentucky has a size advantage,
they ought to be able to have success running with football.
And then Toledo has an entirely new front six, yes,
and Kentucky should be That should be a favorable matchup.
(12:55):
And then when Toledo's got the ball, yeah, Chip Trainum's there,
But they still got offensive line that was struggled to
run the ball. Last year, they were like ninth in
the back.
Speaker 2 (13:04):
One hundred and eighth in the country in yards per
three point four yards of carry.
Speaker 4 (13:09):
So if Kentucky's got an the wider the gap in
the rushing yards in Kentucky's favor, the better chance they'll
have to win by more than a touchdown.
Speaker 2 (13:20):
Maybe Toledo lost nine of their top twelve tacklers from
last season, but they brought back on offense six of
their top nine or.
Speaker 3 (13:28):
Eight receivers and catching the ball. Yeah, Ross is a
really good ball player.
Speaker 5 (13:33):
It'll be a challenge that'll do it. Or the Wildcat
whip for Tom Leech.
Speaker 1 (13:38):
Jeparkoro will talk you next week.
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